Good Karma

Man, life has a way funny way of punching you, knocking you down, kicking you a lot, and then picking you up and giving you ice cream. This past week I have felt like I was treading water in a fast current. I'd try to catch up or get ahead in something, but I'd always find myself with a huge list of things that still could get done. That list is still there. School's a bit more stable, but I've neglected some things around home. My desk is a mess, I have to get rent out, got to figure out how my insurance works...all of these things that I don't have time to do since I've been devoting most of my waking hours to school. On top of that, I got a nice cold on Thursday that has stuck around for the weekend.

But, on Friday, a parent sought me out with my principal in tow, and took us aside. She presented me with a thank you card, meant to acknowledge what I had been doing with the High School "Band" and helping out her daughter in particular, who just got braces and was having troubles adjusting to her trumpet. Inside the card was $280 in cash to go towards something on my "wish list." Here I was, snot running down my nose, wanting nothing more than to go home...and this happened and made the last 3 weeks worth it. It's hard being the only music person in the building, since I'm creating everything on my own and don't really have anyone to bounce ideas off of, so I don't have any good indicator of how effective my teaching is. But recently I've talked with several parents who thought that I was doing a good job so far, and they have made some very helpful suggestions.

Heck, there could have been no money in that card and it still would have been amazing. The reaction from my principal and the place it has put me in in that respect is worth more. I better get some more of my purchase requests in while she still likes me. But the money is nice too...it will be going towards the purchase of a bass drum that didn't come from a drumset, and has both heads in place and intact.

Also, I might have a connection to some playoff tickets through one of the secretaries at work...if she can't go to any of the games she has tickets for, she'll sell them to me. Sweet.